Thanks for nothing BMW NA ( Blue smoke/Oil loss/Oil separator )

[nrgetic99]

Back ground : 2003 X5 4.4i with 100,000 CPO

My 2003 4.4i falls right in the middle of the production window for the well documented concerns with extreme temps leading to condensation in the oil separator hoses which can , in some cases,lead to excessive crankcase pressure, allow water and oil into the intake manifold and ultimately drain back into the cylinder and lead to hydro lock and engine failure.

To add to the fun, I work part time at a ski resort in the mountains on WV where ambient temps regularly sink into single digits and below (-13* at 9 am a few weeks ago) and my vehicle sits and cold soaks from Friday night until Sunday afternoon most weekends in ski season.

10 days ago after a nasty cold snap, I went to start the car and it missed a little on start up, the idle was rough and a little noisy and it seemed to me, that I was getting a little More smoke than I should. I let it idle for 10 mins while I cleaned 3" of snow off it and when i drove it, the engine was fairly warm and ran fine although I drove gingerly to start.

I talked with my stealer this week and he confirmed that while my prod date fell right in the window , he could not complete the service bulletin work as the symptoms were not present at time of inspection.

He suggested I call BMW NA , which i did, and in summary, they are happier to buy me a new engine when it fails than pay now for the heated wrap that goes on the hoses.... in other words, they do not believe in "..an ounce of prevention..."

I do understand their position to some extent but I did not feel happy that they were happier that I get stranded in the mountains , 250 miles from home and have the vehicle towed back to the dealer and get a new engine rather than work with me to potentially prevent that problem ever happening. I did have the rep document my concerns and my dissatisfaction for all that is worth.

I am now looking into getting the heated wrap kit myself and having it fitted. I have SB SI B11 01 04 in hand. Parts kit is # 11 81 390 846

I was thinking this is a wise investment given the history and my prod date (5/03) although I just got a price quote of $522.68 for the parts kit. :eek:

What say the learned folk of X5world ???

David

[primetime]

Well...it at least BMW NA worked with you and offered the new engine. Given the circumstances..I might go for the new engine because that means you get all new everything under the hood basically with no mileage on the new engine. I do understand your dissatisfaction though, Seems they should've just done the service bulletin on your car free of cost..

I would heavily consider the new engine swap though..

[vinuneuro]

Is your X5 covered under some sort of extended warranty through BMW? If it is, do nothing and let them deal with it when the really bad stuff happens. It's obvious what to do if it's not.

[nrgetic99]

For clarification,

It has a BMW Certified Warranty through 100,000 and has 70,000 on it now.

The new engine would only come if it failed as a result of the oil separator issue. They were clear in stating they would take no action until the engine failed.

I would end up stranded 250 miles from home either way.

I agree, if they will not do anything now and I am 99.9% sure its covered if it does fail in dreaded blue smoke, oil loss and or hydrolock way, that the warranty covers a new engine but serious PITA for all concerned if it happens.

David

[vinuneuro]

I don't understand your quandry. Is $522 worth the inconvenience of you being stranded. Oppurtunity cost, there's nothing more to it than that.

[primetime]

Originally Posted by nrgetic99

For clarification,

It has a BMW Certified Warranty through 100,000 and has 70,000 on it now.

The new engine would only come if it failed as a result of the oil separator issue. They were clear in stating they would take no action until the engine failed.

I would end up stranded 250 miles from home either way.

I agree, if they will not do anything now and I am 99.9% sure its covered if it does fail in dreaded blue smoke, oil loss and or hydrolock way, that the warranty covers a new engine but serious PITA for all concerned if it happens.

David

Ah..I see...It makes more sense now. That is a dilemma. I'd be pretty upset.

[Wagner]

[devils advocate]
I somewhat understand the point of not going down the 'prevention' road per customer report. If this was not the policy, then a customer could comment to any creak and groan and have expensive parts replaced because something might go wrong.
[/devils advocate]

I do understand your concern as the owner, having had my trans stop working 100+ miles from home.

[we350z]

Originally Posted by nrgetic99

He suggested I call BMW NA , which i did, and in summary, they are happier to buy me a new engine when it fails than pay now for the heated wrap that goes on the hoses.... in other words, they do not believe in "..an ounce of prevention..."

David

what a bunch of assholes. i hope they have to spring for a new engine for you - but we don't want to see you stranded

[Tominizer]

New engine............ HAH!!......... bet you it's a remanufactured or refurbed one and not brand spankin' new at all.

[nrgetic99]

Let me break it down....

My vehicle is showing early signs of an extremely well known and documented design flaw which may, in my case, in all likelihood lead to some degree of engine damage right up to and including catastrophic failure.

It is well documented as affecting vehicles that were manufactured in the exact time frame that my vehicle was manufactured.

To add to the facts, my vehicle driving habits put me squarely in the small percentage of the owners who are extremely likley to have this concern.

My only choices are :

1. Wait till the engine fails and get towed in from 250 miles away and deal with all the issues surrounding a replacement or potentially remanufactured engine

2. Drop $522 in parts myself plus any labor costs at $110 /hr to avoid 1. even though I have a 100,000 mile CPO warranty AND this is a well documented concern.

3.Advise BMW of the issue and think that at some level, notwithstanding many customers who cry wolf at every creak or groan , someone may be able to make a reasonable decision that performing this simple repair procedure will save BMW in at least $ 10000 at current engine/labor estimates.

In short, I drive it till to fails or drop something north of $750 to address a concern that BMW knows about. That is the trouble with being an engineer and and informed consumer... it just does not sit right that I am using my vehcile in a manner that may lead to premature engine failure and I am going to do nothing about it.

If you don't see why that is a an akward issue then I guess we are not speaking the same language.

I am not married but for those of you that are, try having that conversation with your wife

You : "Hon, be careful when starting car after a weekend at Snowshoe as engine may catasrophically fail and leave you stranded 250 miles from home.."

Wifey : "What you doing about it, you have a warranty and they know ts a problem

You : "Nothing till it fails...I like living dangerously !"

I am predicting frosty relations for some time

David